One of the functions of the immune system is to protect the body by responding to invading microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria, by producing antibodies or sensitized lymphocytes (types of white blood cells). Under normal conditions, an immune response cannot be triggered against the cells of one's own body. In some cases, however, immune cells make a mistake and attack the very cells that they are meant to protect.

The study of the molecular and cellular components that comprise the immune system, including their function and interaction, is the central science of immunology. The immune system has been divided into a more primitive innate immune system and, in vertebrates, an acquired or adaptive immune system.

Cancer immunology is division of biology which deals with understanding the role of the immune system in the development of cancer and string. The most well notable application in cancer immunology is cancer immunotherapy which taps the immune system as a treatment for cancer.

The principle of therapy for chronic inflammatory liver diseases is the removal of causal agents. For autoimmune liver diseases, however, total removal of causal agents and immune cells is impossible. Therefore, autoimmune liver diseases are presently treated by suppression of the immune response. Autoimmune hepatitis is characteristically responsive to corticosteroids, often used in combination with azathioprine to obtain a steroid-sparing effect. For primary biliary cirrhosis, ursodeoxycholic acid is safe and is the first choice for treatment.

Cytokines which comprise of a family of proteins--interleukins, lymphokines, monokines, interferons, and chemokines, are important components of the immune system. They act in concert with specific cytokine inhibitors and soluble cytokine receptors to regulate the human immune response. Their physiologic role in inflammation and pathologic role in systemic inflammatory states are now well recognized.

Autoimmunity results from a break in self-tolerance involving humoral and/or cell-mediated immune mechanisms. One pathological consequence of a failure in central and/or peripheral tolerance is the generation of autoantibodies and subsequent formation of complement-fixing immune complexes that contribute to tissue damage. Prevailing pharmacological strategies for treating autoimmune diseases involve the use of broad-acting immunosuppressants that with long term use have associated toxicities.

Self-tolerance loss is fundamental to autoimmunity. While understanding of immune regulation is expanding rapidly, the mechanisms causing loss of tolerance in most autoimmune diseases remain elusive. Autoimmunity is believed to develop when genetically predisposed individuals encounter environmental agents that trigger the disease.

Virus infection is a primary factor that has been implicated in the initiation of autoimmune disease. Infection triggers a robust and usually well-coordinated immune response that is critical for viral clearance. However, in some instances, immune regulatory mechanisms may falter, culminating in the breakdown of self-tolerance, resulting in immune-mediated attack directed against both viral and self-antigens.

Translational immunology is the process by which researchers use immunological discoveries to develop practical solutions for human problems. Examples include the development of vaccines against infectious diseases or the engineering of new types of drugs to treat inflammatory disorders.

The complement system is an ancient and evolutionary conserved element of the innate immune mechanism. It comprises of more than 20 serum proteins most of which are synthesized in the liver. These proteins are synthesized as inactive precursor proteins which are activated by appropriate stimuli.

There is growing recognition in the scientific community that autoimmune diseases result from immunodeficiency, which disturbs the ability of the immune system to distinguish "self" from "non-self". The normalization of the immune system induced by LDN makes it an obvious candidate for a treatment plan in such diseases.The experience of people who have autoimmune diseases and who have begun LDN treatment has been remarkable.

Forecast the outcome of therapy in clinical trials, or aid in developing improved treatments or preventative measures. All of these applications have been applied to the autoimmune diseases. As a case in point, we have through the years used biomarkers to predict susceptibility and the longer-range outcome of thyroid autoimmunity employing, a number of different approaches.

Also called Hashimoto's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease, a disorder in which the immune system turns against the body's own tissues. In people with Hashimoto's, the immune system attacks the thyroid. Located in the front of your neck, the thyroid gland makes hormones that control metabolism.

Several self-molecules have been identified as target antigens in autoimmune diseases. Since lack or loss of tolerance to these molecules is one of the key events promoting autoimmunity, researchers are exploring the possibility that the administration of antigens or peptides may stimulate tolerogenic mechanisms and delay or prevent the full phenotypic expression of autoimmune diseases.

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